What to expect from a GP consultation for heart attack

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked or severely reduced. Warning symptoms can include pressure or tightness in the chest, pain spreading to an arm, back, neck or jaw, breathlessness, sweating, nausea or sudden weakness. Symptoms can be less typical in some people. A GP may help with later review after hospital care, but a routine appointment is not the right setting to rule out an active heart attack.

If symptoms are happening now, call your local emergency service and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Stop exertion, sit in a supported position and avoid driving yourself. Tell responders about known heart conditions, allergies and medicines if you can do so safely. After hospital discharge, a GP may review medicines, blood pressure, recovery, emotional wellbeing and follow-up with cardiology.

Call emergency services immediately for new chest pressure, unexplained breathlessness, collapse, severe weakness or pain with sweating or nausea. Do not wait to see whether symptoms pass, and do not rely on a previous reassuring test if the symptoms have changed.

Ask which medicines to continue, what activity is suitable, how to recognise a recurrence, when follow-up is due and how to manage risk factors such as smoking, blood pressure or diabetes.